Clomiphene citrate-induced severe hypertriglyceridemia

Fertil Steril. 2009 Jul;92(1):396.e7-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.069. Epub 2009 Apr 19.

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of severe hypertriglyceridemia associated with clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment.

Design: Case report.

Setting: A patient referred to an endocrinology clinic of a state hospital.

Patient(s): A 29-year-old, overweight woman with a history of polycystic ovary syndrome who had been given clomiphene citrate (CC) for ovulation induction and presented with severe hypertriglyceridemia. She had a family history of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

Intervention(s): Clomiphene citrate treatment was discontinued, and gemfibrozil treatment at a dose of 1,200 mg/d was started.

Main outcome measure(s): Serum lipid levels.

Result(s): With the discontinuation of CC treatment and start of a specific lipid-lowering agent, the patient's lipid profile improved. After 3 months, CC therapy was restarted, and again severe hypertriglyceridemia developed, which resolved with the previous treatment strategies.

Conclusion(s): Clomiphene citrate should be used cautiously in women having risk factors for dyslipidemia, and, even in the presence of a normal lipid profile, lipid levels should be closely monitored when CC treatment is instituted.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Clomiphene / adverse effects*
  • Estrogen Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Gemfibrozil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / chemically induced*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Clomiphene
  • Cholesterol
  • Gemfibrozil